Violet is a 17 year old girl in her senior year of high school. Throughout her last year, she is joined by a whirlwind of situations, forcing her into a journey of self discovery, and a quest to accept the tumultuous turns of love and relationships. *LEMONS*

"Damn it, Dex! I told you not to sneak up on me like that! Several times, actually." I hollered at him. I was in line at Starbucks across from North Valley, our high school, the city's largest one. We live in St. Paul, Minnesota, better known as one of the twin cities. Raised in the heart of the city along with 3 older brothers, I was born with a mouth on me and a glare that could sour milk. Despite my tough exterior, there was one person who wasn't scared of me. Unfortunately, he was the one at this exact moment I was attempting to repel.

My annoying best friend had just tickled my sides to see my pogo-stick resembling reaction, which was appearing quite humourous to him.

"I have never hear such profanities from a woman!" Dex exclaimed to what felt like the entire coffee shop, whilst bringing his hand up to his heart in mock disturbance. There was a twinkle of something in his eyes.. amusement? His smug stance only provoked sarcasm.

"Ha, bullshit, you hear me swear all the time.. and I'm no lady." I tacked on, raising on the balls of my feet for dramatic emphasis. I was an unthreatening 5"5, so I needed the boost.

"I'm sure your breasts and other.. er.. lady parts.. would attest to that." Dex stated, his hand sweeping in a downwards motion when he said "lady parts".

"Dex!" I screeched, swatting his blonde head while he ducked, clearly enjoying the alarmed glances from the strangers standing around us. "What the hell is the matter with you, people can hear, you know!" I said while digging through my over the shoulder school bag for my wallet, making sure that my face was down so he wouldn't see the faded pink spreading across my cheeks.

"Come on, I'm just messing with you. Besides, you think anyone is listening to us? They haven't had their morning coffee yet, they're all still zombies." Dex observed, shoving his hands into his pockets with a small shrug of his shoulders. What he didn't notice, was the middle-aged woman in front of us, who shot Dex a dirty look before moving up in the line towards the barista at the cash register to place her order.

"I know, but you should watch what you say, it's embarrassing sometimes.."

"Aw, you don't mean that," he crooned, nudging my arm with his elbow affectionately. I rolled my eyes and moved to the front of the line, paid the woman for a pumpkin spice latte, and guided Dex by the elbow that nudged me out of the crowded line after she handed me my drink.

"I'm just saying you don't constantly have to draw attention to yourself." I explained, pushing through the glass doors out into the blistering cold, adjusting the fuzzy red scarf around my neck with one hand, trying to balance my coffee in the other. Dex just shook his head, a smirk on his - albeit - perfectly shaped lips. As much as it may pain me to admit, Dex was a good-looking guy. He had sandy blonde hair that was usually kept up by gel, but not in a gross, greasy way. His blue eyes were soft and curious, and had the ability to pierce through your every thought if you weren't careful. His medium build gave him a protective but not intimidating posture. His toned arms and muscular legs made almost every girl's knees week in the twelfth grade. Dex didn't really seem to notice, though. He was kind, and interacted with everyone who crossed him. He was the entire package, which appeared the reason almost the entire female population at North Valley had fancied him at one point or another after laying eyes on him.

"Come on Vi, you know I'm just kidding. You're always on my ass about that kind of thing. You've got to learn to relax." he said while making an extremely over-dramatic scene of inhaling a deep breath.

"All right, all right." I gasped, not in the mood for his inappropriate antics at 8:30 in the morning. Despite him being my best friend, Dex drove me crazy sometimes. If it wasn't his unfiltered honesty, it was his loud talking. Or worse, the current redheaded Barbie he was dating. Aubrey, I think her name was. She was overly pretentious, and had an awfully escalating superiority complex. It didn't help that she knew Dex and me were best friends. It also didn't help that I was secretly, and ashamed to admit, irrevocably in love with Dex.

A/N: This my very first fic! I'd love a review, thanks for taking the time to read this excerpt. Should I continue?

The author would like to thank you for your continued support. Your review has been posted.